Motion picture apparatus



MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Aer-Hue CAPPcwre'Q BYq E F ATTQRNEY 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 A. .w. CARPENTER MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS- Filed A ril 20, 1936 Q Q L NTOR APPENTEI? E v t 0 5 .nwm No in P F WW9 3 R 0 3 mt N ATTORNEY Jan. 3, 1939. A. w. CARPENTER 2,142,493

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS INVENTOR.

- A TTOR EY A/PTHUP W CAEPENTEP Jan. 3, 1939. v w CARPENTER v 2,142,493

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1936 INVENTOR. Aer-Hut? W CAQPENTEI? ATTOR EY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED s'ra'ras PATENT OFFICE MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Application April 20, 1936, Serial No. 15,345

- 6Claims;

This invention relates to motion picture apparatus and more particularly to automatic film threading arrangements for guiding a motion picture film through the various mechanisms of a motion picture device.

In the past few years, motion picture cameras, projectors and other similar apparatus have been developed to incorporate self threading features whereby the film used therein may be automatically threaded through the apparatus withoutthe aid of the operator. These automatic threading arrangements have particular value when used in portable sub-standard cameras and projectorsusually employed by amateur operators who desire to devote a minimum amount of time and efiort to the operation of the machine.

In general, automatic threading arrangements of the type referred to require film guiding means for guiding the forward or leading edge of the film to and from the various sprockets, film gate, and sound gate in the case of a talking picture device, etc. Further, a portion of the film guiding means is generally movable into two positions so as to form a loop in the film in one pwition, when threading, and in another position to allow the loop to expand or contract so as to compensate for a change in motion of the film from a constant motion to an intermittent motion required to.project the motion pictures carried by the film.

The leading edge of the film which may at times be ragged or uneven, has a tendency to curl and thus catch between the various guiding means or between the guiding means and the various sprockets, picture gate, sound gate, etc.

One object of the present invention is to obviate the above mentioned difiiculties.

This is accomplished by providing interdigitating or interlocking projections on the ends of ad-' jacent film guiding members so as to present an uninterrupted passage for the leading end of a parts broken 01!, showing the actuating mechanism in still" position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the interdigitating projections on the ends of a loop forming member.

- Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the drive sprocket and adjacent film guides and is taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the projector, similar to that of Fig. 1, with parts broken away, showing the actuating mechanism in threading" position.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuit for the projector.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevational view through the drive sprocket and its adjacent pad members, and is taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the interdigitating projections of the pad members.

Fig. 9 is a sectionalview through the fiy-wheel roller and its accompanying spring pressed pad roller, and is taken along the line 99 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line i0ill of Fig. 9.

Attention is called to the co-pending applications of Ernest Ross, Serial No. 744,947, filed September 21, 1934, and Serial No. 31,546, filed July 16, 1935, which disclose and claim several features of the projector illustrated and described herein, such as the intermittent movement, driving connections, and general arrangement of parts. i

The present invention is illustrated asbeing embodied. in a portable home talking picture projector, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to use therewith but may be applied to any film handling apparatus. Particularly of the automatic threading type.

Referring to Fig. 1, the combined picture projector and sound reproducer is shown as being enclosed within a casing it, having a handle ii for carrying purposes. A cover partially illustrated at I! is hingely supported at it on the side of casing in to allow access to the interior of the projector. Reel supporting standards It I and II are provided on the upper surface of casing ill to carry supply and take-up reels l6 and II, respectively.

In order to facilitate assembly of the projecting o mechanism and also to simplify the arrangement of the various parts, most of the mechanism is mounted upon a vertical wall II which, in turn, is supported within the casing it by pads l9 and 20 of resilient material, such as sponge rubher. This resilient material prevents contact of to "absorb vibration and sound produced by the various moving parts of the projector.

The picture projection gate, generally indicated at 2|, comprises a stationary aperture plate 22 and a movable aperture plate 23. An aperture indicated by the dotted lines 24 extends through both plates 22 and 23. A projection lamp 28 on the rear side of wall i8 is provided to project a beam of light through an enlarged aperture, indicated by the dotted lines 25, onto a mirror 21 disposed at 45 to the wall l8. From mirror l8 the light is reflected through aperture 24 inplate 22 and onto a film 25 passing through the picture gate. An objective lens'28 is pro-' vided to focus the illuminated film on a suitable motion picture screen (not shown). The aperture plate 23 is movably supported upon pins 38 and 3i extending from wall l8 and is engaged at either end by a pair of bell crank levers 32 and. 33 having their upwardly projecting armsex-.

tending through slots therein. Levers 32 and 33 are pivotally supported. on the wall H! at 34 and 35 respectively. Springs 36 and 3'! are secured between the outer ends of levers 32 and 33 and pins 38 and 38, respectively, projecting from the wall l8 to resiliently urge the movable plate 23 against film 25 in the picture gate 2L. Plate 23 is movable outwardly, for the purpose of threadi r i g film through the picture gate 2!, by means of a pair of fingers 39 and 48. These fingers are attached to a vertical movable bar 4i, slideable within a groove 4! formed in wall l8 and are adapted, in one position of bar M, to engage and depress the horizontally extending arms of levers 32 and 33. Also attached to the bar 4i at its upper end is a loop former 42 which is semicircular in shape.

The sound gate generally indicated at 43 comprises a pair of stationary film guiding members '44 and 45 secured to the wall l8 and forming a film passage therebetween. An aperture 46 extending horizontally through the members 44 and 45 allows a light beam projected by an exciter lamp 4! to pass through the sound track portion of the film and be impressed upon a selenium cell 48, or other suitable photo-electric device situated in a recess formed at the back of the guide member 45. Lamp 41 is adjustably supported upon a bracket 50 which also carries a tube 5| containing a lens and slit combination through which light from the exciter lamp 47 tering as it passes the sound translation point in sound gate 43, the film is kept in close contact with the forward surface of member 45 by means of springs, one of which is shown at 5!. Springs 5| are secured at their lower ends to the guide member 44 and are engaged at their upper ends by a lever 52. Lever 52 is pivotally supported at 53 on wall [8 and is adapted to be engaged at its free end by a projection 54 formed on a second vertical movable rod 79. D

As a further precaution to prevent fluctuation of the film while passing the sound translation point, a roller 55 is provided below the sound gate 43 and has attached thereto a fiy-wheel indicated by the dotted lines 56. A second roller 51, freely rotatable on a loop former lever 58, is provided adjacent roller 55. Lever 58 is pivotally supported at 59 on wall l8 and is connected at one end to a spring 60, the other end areaaoa of which is secured to a pin 6| projecting from the wall It. Thus, it will be seen that lever 58 resiliently urges the roller 51 against the flywheel roller 55 or against a film passing therebetween. The free end of lever 58 is shown as being semi-circular in shape and constitutes a loop former for the film pasing from the picture gate 2i.

A single drive sprocket 52 is provided which acts bothas a supply and a take-up sprocket for a film passing through the projector. Sprocket 62 is driven through a suitable connection (not shown) by means of a motor diagrammatically indicated at 63 in Fig. 6. This motor 53 also drives an intermittent movement 64 directlybelow the picture gate 28 through a suitable connection (not shown). A ventilating system comprising a plurality of centrifugal fans, one of which is shown at 65, (Fig. 1) is provided to draw in air through an aperture 55 in the rear of the casing 88 and circulate it about the projection lamp 23 and the adjacent mechanism. The fans 65, etc., are also driven by motor 63 through suitable direct connections (not shown).

The projector is adapted to be set in any one of three different positions, i. e. running", still" and threading, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, respectively. An operating lever 58' is provided to set the projector in any one of the three mentioned positions. Lever 58 is in the shape of a bell crank and is pivotally secured by means of a. screw 59 to the wall l8. The horizontally extending arm E l of lever 58 has an elongated slot 18 which engages a pin I! provided on the vertically extending bar 19. Bar 19 'is guided at its upper end by means of a pin or screw I2 extending from wall l8 and projecting within a vertically extending elongated slot l2 formed in the bar IS. A second elongated slot 73 on the lower portion of bar 191s engaged by a screw l4 secured to one end of a loop former actuating lever 15. Lever E5 is pivotally Supported by means of a screw 16 upon the wall l8 and has an elongated slot ll at its opposite end whichengages a pin 18 provided on the lower end of the vertically extending. bar 4!. An upwardly extending projection on the lever 15 has pivotally secured thereto, at 8|, one end of a link 82. The other end of link 82 is pivotally secured at 83 to the combined lever and loop former 58. When the lever 68 is thrown forward into a running, position, as indicated in Fig. 1, the vertical bar 19 is moved to its lowermost position which in turn rotates the lever 15 in a counterclockwise'direction so as to allow the vertical bar 4! at the forward end of the projector to be moved upwardly by means of a spring 84 pro-- vided between a pin projecting from wall I8 and the upper end of bar 4|. This movement of bar 4! allows the springs 36 and 31 to resiliently urge the movable aperture plate 23 against the film 25 in the picture gate 2| and also allows'the upper loop former 42 to be moved upwardly away from a juxtaposed stationary loop former section 42 to permit the loop formed in the film 25 to expand and contract due to the change in motion from constant speed to intermittent speed required for projection of moving pictures. Also the counter-clockwise movement of lever I5 allows the spring 68 attached between the loop former 58 and a pin 6| to withdraw the same downwardly so as to permit a loop 86 formed in the film 25, directly below the picture gate 2!,

to expand and contract. when the loop former 50 is in this position the roller 51 is resiliently urged against a film passing between the dywheel roller 55 and roller 51.

When the lever 50 is retracted to its extreme rearward position, as shown in Fig. 5, for the threading operation, the bar is raisedupwardly causing the other vertical bar I to be drawn downward through the action of lever 15. This movement closes the loop formers 42 and 50 for the forming of the speed variation compensating film loops before and after the film gate 2I, and also opens the film gate 2I to allow the film to be threaded therethrough. Simultaneously with the closing of loop former 50 the presser roller 51 is retracted from engagement with the fiywheel roller 55 so as to permit threading of the film between these two rollers. The springs Si in sound gate 43 are bowed, during this opera- I tion, through the action of the projection 54 on bar 19 engaging lever 52. This bowing of springs 5i provides a sufiicient space between the front surfaces thereof and the film guiding surface of the stationary member 45 to allow the leading edge of the film to be threaded therebetween with a minimum amount of friction.

A safety device 90 is provided adjacent the film path directly behind the drive sprocket 52 to engage the film after it passes on its way to the take-up reel I1 from the sprocket 52. This device comprises a mercury switch which is pivotaliy mounted on the wall I0 as at 9|. Arms 02, coacting with the switch 00 are adapted, when the projector is in "running or still position. to engage the surface of the film at either edge thereof. A spring 93 is provided to retract the switch 00 so as to break a contact 04 therein when the film in the projector breaks or when the end of the film passes the arms 92. This action of the switch 90 stops the motor in a manner described hereinafter.

A lever 95 pivotally mounted at 96 to the rear vertical bar 19 has a spring 51 connected thereto to urge it upwardly. when bar 19 is raised to its upward position, during the threading operation, this lever 95 engages and moves the switch 90 to remove the arms 92 from the film passage so as to allow the leading edge of the film to pass thereby.

In the still position, the lever 50 is positioned intermediate its threading" and running" positions as indicated in Fig. 2. The loop formers 42 and 58 as well as the film gates 2I and 43 are allowed to remain in the same positions which they occupied in the running position. That is to say, that when moving the lever 50 from its running" to still position, the lever is undisturbed due to the elongated slot 12 on the bottom portion of bar 55 which allows for a certain upward movement of bar 10 before engaging the lever 15. However, movement of the bar 19 upwardly through this action causes a cam surface 90 formed at the upper end thereof to engage and rotate in a counter-clockwise direction a motor clutch operating lever I00. Lever I00 is pivoted to the wall II at I00 and is connected at its upper end through a suitable link mechanism (not shown) to a motor clutch (not shown). This motor clutch is connected between the projector motor 63 (Fig. 6) and both the drive sprocket 02 and the intermittent movement 54. When in still position, as shown in Fig. 2, the clutch is thrown out of engagement so as to allow the sprocket 62 and movement 64 to stop, thus allowing for still projection of any desired j picture frame in the film 25.

Referring to Fig. 6 which illustrates a circuit diagram of the projector, the motor 00 is connected in series with a master switch I, the safety switch 00, and a resistance III. The projector lamp is connected in parallel across the motor circuit and has provided in series therewith a switch I05 adapted to be operated by the lever 50. The purpose of switch I05 is to open the projection lamp circuit during the threading" operation and to close it during both the "running" and still" operation.

As is well known, 16 mm. silent film is generally run at 16 frames per second, while the 18 mm. sound film is run at 24 frames per second. While the herein described projector is especially designed for sound film, it may be desirable at times to project silent film. To accomplish this result. I employ a two speed change-over control I01 which is adapted to selectively control the motor 52 at either of two predetermined speeds, corresponding to the speeds required for both the silent and sound films. The change-over control I01 comprises a pair of centrifugally operated switches I00 and Ill, operatively connected to motor 63, each of which is set to open at a speed corresponding to either silent picture projection speed or sound picture projection speed. These two switches are so arranged that they may be selectively placed in parallel across the resistance lll'by means of a switch I08.

I will now describe the interdlgitating projections provided on adjacent ends of the various film guiding members and forming the main embodiment of this invention. Referring to Figs. '7 and 8, the film drive sprocket 02 has provided on either side thereof, a pair of presser pads I" and I20 pivotally supported to the wall II as follows; the upper end of each of pads II I and I20 have projections HI and I22 through which a laterally extending hole is provided. A stud I24 extends through this hole in projectionsI2I and I22 and is journaled in the wall II to form a pivotal bearing for each of the pads II! and I20, A set of spaced disc members I25, I25 and I21 interposed between the projections I2I and I22, and on either side thereof, have co-axial holes therein through which is passedthe stud I24. These discs I25 to I21, inclusive, form a film guiding surface for the film 25 passing thereover to, or from the drive sprocket 62. In this case, each stud I24 is connected by means of an arm I28 (Fig. 8) to a spring I29 for the purpose of urging the presser pads H9 and I20 toward the drive sprocket 62.

Situated-adjacent the lower end of presser pad I20 is a second set of co-axially spaced discs I", IOI and I22, forming a guiding member for film 25. A pair of washers or spacers I20 and I. are provided to hold the discs I20 to I02.inc1usive, in space relation with each other. This assembly is secured to wall II by means of *a bolt I extending axially therethrough and threaded in the wall I0. A pair of projections I31 and I28 are formed on the lower end of the presser pad I20. These projections lnterengage or interdigitate with the discs I20 and I02. inclusive. so as to provide an uninterrupted film passage for the leading end of the film 25 while being threaded through the projector and thusprevent this leading edge from catching between the sprocket 62 and this lower cylindrical film guide assembly. Presser pad III also has pro jections I36 extending downwardly therefrom which interlock or interengage with mating ups the sprocket 62 has a grooves Mid, EM, and

' "M2 therein, into which projections Mil, Mil and M2, on a stationary film guide 8438 above the .sprocket d2 extend. Grooves Mil, ME, and M2,

also receive projections Mt", Ml" and. M2" ex i upwardly from a stationary film guide Md below the sprocket 62. These interdlgitations between guides M8 and Mid, and sprocket 62, preventthe leading edge of the from catc stic between the loop and 5 56' on loop former therebetween.

Refeg now to Fig. 3, the semi-circular loop former 62 is also shown as having projections M5 and M on the rear end thereof. The projections M5 and M5 are adapted, when the projector is in threading position, as in Fig. 5, to extend within the interspa'ces between discs 53d to 832. respectively. The forward projections M5 62" are adapted, in threading position, to extend within slots Mid and M9 formed in the upper end portion of the movable aperture plate 23, thus preventing the leading edge of the 25 from catching or former 52 and the aperture plate 28, while being threaded therepast.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, the lower loop former 53 has similar projections let on .the upper end thereof which are adapted to interengage with and extend through slots lei (similar to those at M8 and M9) in the lower end portion of the movable-aperture plate 23, in threading position.

Although, in the above mentioned interdigita connections, only two or three projections have been provided on each member, it is to be understood, that any number of projections may be employed. It should further be understood that the greater the number oi projections em- 'ployed on each adjacent member, the smaller will he the chance of the leading edge of the film catching in the crevices formed between those adjacent members.

' Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, I will now describe the means for preventing the from catching or sticking between the two rollers 55 and 57 and their adjacent guiding .mem-' bers. As shown in Fig. 10, the fiy-wheel roller 56 comprises a pair of spaced roller elements are and 855. These two elements are both secured upon a fiy-wheel roller shaft i155 carrying the fiy-wheel 58 at its opposite ,end. The pressure roller El also comprises a pair of spaced roller elements 65% and i5? secured upon a stub shaft 888. Shaft 85d is journaled within a bearing 859 extending from the loop iormer member 58. A small w piece ififi is secured between the stationary guide 655, above roller 55, and a second stationaryfilm guide member idi, positioned below the roller 55. This member ififi extends within the interspace between roller elements 658 and i5 3 and lies slightly below the surface of the portion of film 25 passing tangentially over the roller. A second bridging piece Sis secured to the lower end of stationary member 66 as by a screw 9541. This member ltd extends through the interspace between roller elements E56 and i575, slightly below the portion of the surface thereof which engages the film 25, and has its free end lying closely adjacent the loop former member 53.

Thus the leadingend of the film, as it is being threaded through the projector, will be guidgreases 7 ed to and from engagement with rollers 55 and 57 without the possibility of it catching therebetween.

Although the interdigitating or interenga projections of the film guiding means, which constitutes the pertinent part of the present invention is described and illustrated in conjunction with a motion picture projector, it is to be understood that these interdigitated projections may be employed in any motion picture apparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a motion picture apparatus, guiding means comprising a plurality of spaced discs co=- axial with each other to provide a film guiding surface, a film guiding member adjacent said discs, said member having projections on one end thereof adapted to extend .within the interspaces between said discs to provide an uninterrupted film passage for the leading end of a film between said discs and said member, and a second plurality of spaced discs co-axial with each other, said film guiding member being pivoted co-axially with said second plurality of spaced discs and having projections interdigitating with said second plurality of discs. .12. In a motion picture apparatus, a plurality of ho-axially spaced disc members forming a guidingsurface, a film guiding member adjacent said disc-members and having projections extending intfmthe interspaces between said disc members, saidppojections being plvot'ally supported at a point substantially concentric with the axes of said disc members.

3. In a motion picture. apparatus a drive sprocket for feeding film to said apparatus at one side thereof and taking film from said apparatus on the other side thereof, a plurality of film guiding discs disposed to guide said film onto said sprocket andaway from said sprocket, an a plurality of pressure pads on opposite sides said sprocket adapted to maintain said ill, thereon, said pressure pads'having projections at the extremities thereof tate with certain of said film guiding discs.

4. Automatic film threading apparatus comprising a film passage, means for propelling the free end of a film through said passage, a porrelatively movable walls tion of one side oi said passage comprising two adapted in one position to abut, and interdigitated film guiding projec= tiens on the adjacent ends of said walls to prevent the leading' edge of a film from catching on the joint between said wall portions when abutted, one of said movable walls comprising a loop former, a grooved guide roller associated therewith, and stripping fingers on said loop former cooperating with said. grooved guide roller.

5. Automatic film threading apparatus comprising an arcuate loop former having a plurality of laterally spaced film guiding projections adapted to interdigi-' at each end thereof, means for rectilinearly moving said loop iormer,-a wall member having a plurality of recesses adapted to receive the projections at one end of said loop former, and a guide roller having a plurality of grooves adapted to receive the projections at the other end of said loop former, whereby said'loop former is adapted to strip the leading end of a film from said guide roller and lead e past the A joint between said loop former and said wali member.

6. Automatic film threading apparatus comprising a film gate, a. loop former above said gate, means for supporting said loop former for movement in a straight line, a second loop former below said gate, means for supporting said second loop former for pivotal movement, common means for operating both of said loop formers. and interdigitated film guiding projections on one end of each of said loop formers and on said gate.

ARTHUR W. CARPENTER. 

